[Event "Memorable Games #4: Fischer's Najdorf: Fischer's Najdorf"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/dWrF20z0/PPQrQVzM"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B92"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation, Traditional Line"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/mross12"] [UTCDate "2018.03.19"] [UTCTime "22:08:58"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/dWrF20z0/PPQrQVzM"] [Orientation "black"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O (8. Bg5 Nbd7 (8... O-O 9. Nd2 Nxe4 10. Bxe7 Nxc3 11. Bxd8 Nxd1 12. Be7 Re8 13. Nc4 Nxb2 14. Nb6 Rxe7 15. Nxa8 Na4 16. O-O-O Rd7) 9. a4 { A4 creates bind locking bishop in. } { [%csl Gc8][%cal Gc8b7,Gc8d7,Ga4b5,Ga1a8,Gb7b5] }) 8... O-O 9. Be3 Be6 { So as to not block the d file with d7, and prepare d5. } (9... Bd7 { [%csl Gd7][%cal Gd6d5] }) 10. f3 Qc7 11. Qe1 { Doesn't do much. Neither hinders black's development nor queen side expansion. } 11... Nbd7 12. Rd1 b5 { [%csl Gc2,Gd5][%cal Gc7c2,Gc3d5] } 13. Rd2 { [%csl Gc4] } 13... Nb6 (13... b4 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bf5 16. Qf2 a5 { C pawn weakness. } { [%csl Gc2] }) 14. Qf2? { Can't allow black to gain control of the C file and activate his knight. } 14... Rab8? { Fischer says this was a mistake. Wanted to develop more; didn't think he would take if he didn't take last time. Also wanted to keep options open with a4 or c4. } (14... Nc4 15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. Bb6 Qc8 17. Na5 Nd7! 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Rb8 20. Be3 { [%cal Gb8b2] }) 15. Bxb6 Rxb6 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Bd7 18. f4 Bf6 (18... f6 { Weakens e6 square; locks in dark squared bishop } { [%csl Ge6][%cal Gd5e6] }) 19. c3 Rbb8 20. fxe5 Bxe5 (20... dxe5 { Bishop pair's strength is negated by weakness of his c5 square for the knighit. } { [%csl Gc5,Gf6,Gd7][%cal Gb3c5] }) 21. Nd4 g6 22. a3 { Preparing a pawn push to strengthen the e5 bishop, undermine the powerful d4 knight. } 22... a5 23. Kh1 { bf3 needs to be played to support the pawn. f7 isn't as weak as it appears } { [%csl Gf3][%cal Ge2f3] } 23... b4 24. cxb4 axb4 25. Rc2 Qb6 { [%cal Gb6f2] } 26. Nc6 { A draw looks secure as white. } 26... bxa3 27. Qxb6 { Can't allow a 7th rank passed pawn to be created by gobbling up the rook. } (27. Nxb8 Qxf2 28. Rxf2 a2 29. Rf1 Rxb8 30. Ra1 Ra8 (30... Bf5 31. Rd2 Bb1 32. Bc4 Rc8 33. Bf1 Rc1 34. Kg1 Bf4 35. Re2 Bd3 36. Rxc1 Bxc1 37. Re8+ Kg7 38. Ra8 Be3+ 39. Kh1 Bxf1) 31. Bc4 Bf5 32. Rxa2 Rxa2 33. Bxa2) 27... Rxb6 28. bxa3 Ra8 29. Nxe5? dxe5 { Gives black a strong passed e pawn, while the passed d pawn is weak. } 30. Rc3 (30. Rc7 Rd6 31. Bb5 { Will be refuted by the back rank mate threat. } 31... Bxb5 32. Rfxf7 Rc8 33. Rg7+ Kf8 34. Rcf7+ Ke8 35. Re7+ Kd8) 30... Rb2 31. Rc7 Bf5 32. g4 Be4+ 33. Bf3 Bd3 34. d6 Rd8 35. Re1 Rxd6 36. Rxe5 Rf6 37. Re3 Rxf3 38. Rxf3 Be4 39. Rxf7 Rf2 40. Kg1 Rxf3 41. Rf8+ Kxf8 *